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MIECZYSLAW KARLOWICZ

(1876-1909)

Select Complete Single Disc for

1

Bianca da Molena

11:11

Symphonic prologue from Music for the White Dove, Op. 6

(incidental music to the play by Jozafat Nowinski)

Allegro non troppo, ma energico -

Serenade for String Orchestra, Op. 2

21:25

in C major - in C-Dur - en ut majeur

2

I

March. Allegro moderato - Tempo di Marcia - Trio. Meno mosso

5:04

3

II

Romance. Andante con moto

6:52

4

III

Waltz. Allegro moderato - Poco più mosso - Tempo I

6:01

5

IV

Finale. Allegretto non troppo

3:15

'Rebirth' Symphony, Op. 7

39:45

in E minor - in e-Moll - en mi mineur

6

I

Andante - Allegro - Meno mosso - Tempo I

14:28

7

II

Andante non troppo

9:17

8

III

Vivace - Molto meno mosso - Tempo I

5:15

9

IV

Allegro maestoso - Allegro ben moderato -

10:33

Karlowicz: 'Rebirth' Symphony etc.

Karlowicz was the great hope of the 'Young Poland' movement, but died in 1909 aged only thirty-two. The 'Rebirth' Symphony comes from early in his short career and in style owes much to Tchaikovsky. The CD also offers a Serenade for Strings, an immediately engaging work despite its inevitable roots in the Slavic tradition of Dvorák and Suk. The BBC Philharmonic conveys the music with a sense of authority, enthusiasm, and loving care. This is the second of three Chandos discs devoted to the music of Karlowicz and was BBC Music Magazine's Disc of the Month in April 2004.

Mieczyslaw Karlowicz's compositions reflect his admiration for the music of Bruckner, Grieg, Richard Strauss and Tchaikovsky and are characterised by late-romantic melancholy.

The BBC Philharmonic's previous release of orchestral works by Karlowicz was a Daily Telegraph 'Disc of the Year', a Gramophone 'Record of the Month' and a BBC Music Magazine 'Pick of the Month'. The disc generated a huge surge of interest in this neglected composer.

Gianandrea Noseda's work to date with the BBC Philharmonic has been rapturously received.

None of this music is otherwise available.

Mieczyslaw Karlowicz has been described as one of the greatest might-have-beens in musical history. One of the most individual voices of his generation, he created an utterly unique sound world which blended traditional Polish nationalism with the influences of more cosmopolitan composers such as Tchaikovsky, Grieg, Wagner and Richard Strauss to produce music that is dense, chromatic and achingly romantic. Karlowicz never fulfilled his early promise. A keen mountaineer, he died in an avalanche in his beloved Tatra mountains at the age of just thirty-two, leaving only a handful of works.

Karlowicz's Serenade for String Orchestra was an early composition, completed while the composer was a student of twenty-one. The work displays a precocious handling of chromatic harmony and flair for the management of key schemes.

Music for the White Dove originated as incidental music for a play and was first performed in concert form in 1900. It consists of 'Bianca de Molena', a symphonic prologue for full orchestra, and a rarely played Intermezzo for reduced forces. Though the influence of Wagner is evident, the prologue is notable for its impressive opening fanfare and process of continuous development.

The Rebirth Symphony was completed in 1903. The work describes the artist's psychological rebirth, through unceasing hard work, after he has overcome early disappointments. There can be little doubt that in this respect the work reflected Karlowicz's own sense of disillusion after professional and personal setbacks in Berlin. In the symphony, Karlowicz's only attempt at the genre, parallels with Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony are particularly apparent.

Charming and worth investigating.

Classic FM Magazine

Gianandrea Noseda brings the same level off devotion to this unfamiliar music as did Yan Pascal Tortelier in Vol 1 (CHAN 9986), with the BBC Philharmonic, as so often, giving the impression that is has been playing it all its life. The strings shine in the Serenade while the brass come to the fore in the more grandiose passages of the Symphony.

The Telegraph

Chandos first CD of orchestral music by Mieczyslaw Karolwicz, the great hope of the Young Poland movement who died in 1909 aged only 32, was one of my favourite discs of 2002. For this follow-up, Gianandrea Noseda takes over from Yan Pascal Tortelier, and the repertoire comes from earlier in Karlowiczs short career' A worthy successor to the first release - and there must be at least another discs worth to come

BBC Music Magazine Disc of the Month

'Mieczyslaw Karlowicz is served like a kind by the Chandos engineers for this second volume of orchestral works. Nodesda makes a dedicated successor to Tortelier, conductor for the first volume. He draws some intense playing from the excellent Manchester orchestra, especially in long-drawn, quieter passages, and the Romance from the string Serenade, where the composer evokes Mahler, Grieg, Tchaikovsky, Dvorák, Elgar, and a variety of Nordic composers, but with a calm confidence all his own.'

Fanfare (USA)

Hes [Karlowicz] best known for his symphonic poems, but Noseda gives the premiere recording of Karlowiczs only symphony, an early programmatic work that is a masterly synthesis of Richard Strauss and Tchaikovsky (think of the Fifth). The fillers are both even earlier - and equally well caught.

The Independent

BBC Music Magazine Disc of the Month April 2004
'Chandos' first CD of orchestral music by Mieczyslaw Karolwicz, the great hope of the 'Young Poland' movement who died in 1909 aged only 32, was one of my favourite discs of 2002. For this follow-up, Gianandrea Noseda takes over from Yan Pascal Tortelier, and the repertoire comes from earlier in Karlowicz's short career' A worthy successor to the first release - and there must be at least another disc's worth to come.

BBC Music Magazine

Gramphone Disc of the Month May 2004
'The BBC Philharmonic's playing and Chandos' recording uphold their customary high standards, the orchestra's principal conductor Giandrea Noseda yielding not an inch to his predecessors in turns of energy and insight.'

Gramophone

The BBC Philharmonics playing and Chandos recording uphold their customary high standards, the orchestras principal conductor Giandrea Noseda yielding not an inch to his predecessors in turns of energy and insight.